Kerala has ramped up its anti-drug operations, now registering an average of 100 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act every day. The crackdown has led to the arrest of film personalities, drawing national attention. But the aggressive campaign has had an unexpected consequence–some sections of the media are labelling Kerala as the country’s new drug capital.
One viral video claims Kerala has dismantled Punjab from this position.
Data shows Kerala does have three times the number of NDPS cases as Punjab. But does that really make the southern state a drug haven? A closer look at the narcotics data reveals a different picture – the quantity of drugs seized in Kerala is significantly lower than in several other states. What Kerala leads in, however, is the number of cases and arrests under the NDPS Act.
The quantity seized
According to state-wise drug seizure data of 2024 compiled by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kerala ranks 20th in ganja seizures and also trails behind several other states when it comes to the quantity of synthetic drugs seized.
Combined figures from various agencies in Kerala show a total seizure of 4482 kg ganja in 2024. In comparison, Odisha seized a staggering 1,43,761 kg of ganja, followed by Maharashtra with 55,351 kg and Andhra Pradesh with 53,983 kg.
Punjab, often considered a major consumer of drugs and a transit route, reported only 868 kg ganja seizure last year.
Among other southern states 7334 kg was seized from Tamil Nadu, 24427 kg from Telangana and 9619 kg from Karnataka.
Overall, 5.3 lakh kg of ganja was seized across India in 2024, with Kerala accounting for 0.85% of it.
The seizure figures from Kerala are higher when it comes to synthetic drugs, but calling the state a drug capital is still an exaggeration.
With a seizure of 24.27 kg of MDMA (a psychedelic drug), Kerala ranks fourth among states. Andhra Pradesh tops the list with a seizure of 75.09 kg, followed by Karnataka (51.52 kg) and Uttar Pradesh (26.74 kg). Punjab seized only 2.92 kg MDMA in 2024.
When it comes to heroin, Punjab led the country in 2024 with 1150 kg seized—roughly 44% of the total national haul. Kerala, by comparison, seized only 2.09 kg, far behind states like Delhi (234 kg), Assam (186.40 kg), and Rajasthan (118.35 kg).
Hashish oil appears to be popular among drug users in southern states. Still, Kerala which seized 10.39 kg trails behind Andhra Pradesh (200 kg), Telangana (119 kg), Tamil Nadu (82.83 kg) and Karnataka (10.64 kg). Seizure of hashish oil is negligible in other states.
Of the total 1483.30 kg cocaine seized across the country in 2024, a staggering 94% came from New Delhi. Kerala seized only 0.01 kg cocaine in 2024.
As for LSD, another psychedelic drug, Kerala seized 924 blots last year. While most other states recorded no seizures, Sikkim (3905), Uttarakhand (2058) and Goa (1825) recorded high numbers.
According to officials, there aren’t any meth manufacturing units or ganja farms in Kerala. The seizures are mainly from customers and peddlers, who source the drugs from neighbouring states.
Kerala ramps up raids
According to data presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly in 2025, Kerala recorded a whopping 442% increase in NDPS cases in the last 15 years. This forced the state to take a zero tolerance approach towards drugs and launch massive campaigns and anti-drug operations.
Kerala registered 27,701 NDPS cases in 2024 – three times the number reported by Punjab, which stood at 9,025. Kerala also recorded 29,755 arrests, while Punjab followed with 12,301.
No other state crossed the five-digit mark in terms of arrests.
In 2015, Kerala intensified its anti drug drive with the launch of a special operation called D-hunt.
Under operation D-hunt, 761.07 kg of ganja, 4.9 kg of MDMA, 0.052 kg hashish, 0.5 kg hashish oil and 0.092 kg of heroin was seized in January 2025 alone.
A senior police officer told TNM that Kerala has far less supply compared to other states. He pointed to the intensified operations in Kerala as the reason for registering a high number of cases. He ruled out the presence of synthetic drug manufacturing units and huge cartels in Kerala. “Due to this intensified drive, we are wrongly being termed as drug capital,” he said.
As per a recent video by a finance influencer on Instagram, drugs are being delivered to kids in super bikes, just like quick commerce. He added that drugs reach Kerala from Thailand and African countries through couriers and the state has three times the number of cases of Punjab.
According to officials in the narcotics wing, hybrid ganja (a combination of Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa strains) were found to be imported from Thailand. “All other synthetic drugs and ganja are supplied from other states. Most synthetic drugs, like MDMA, come from Bengaluru and Delhi while ganja mostly comes from Odisha and Andhra. African nationals, who arrive on student visas, are engaged in the manufacture of synthetic drugs in places like Bengaluru,” the official said.
The official said that delivery of narcotics in superbikes did not come to their notice. “Instead of direct delivery, peddlers now drop the drugs in some locations and share landmarks, like photos carrying the number of nearby electric posts etc, to the consumer,” he said.
At The News Minute, we go beyond the headlines and dig into data to separate perception from reality. Support journalism that asks the right questions—subscribe to TNM today.
